Haitians primarily speak two official languages: Haitian Creole and French.
- Haitian Creole is the most widely spoken language in Haiti, with over 95% of the population fluent in it. It is a French-based creole language that emerged during the 17th and 18th centuries from contact between French settlers and enslaved Africans. Haitian Creole incorporates vocabulary mainly from 18th-century French but has grammar influenced by West African languages, as well as some elements from Spanish, Portuguese, and Taíno. It exists mostly in spoken form and has three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern
- French is also an official language and is used in official documents, education, and media. However, only about 5-10% of Haitians are fluent in French, mostly among the elite and urban populations. French is considered the standard written language, but it is less commonly spoken in everyday life compared to Haitian Creole
Additionally, minority languages such as Spanish and English are spoken by smaller segments of the population, especially near the border with the Dominican Republic and among the business community
. In summary, Haitian Creole is the native and most widely spoken language of Haitians, while French serves as an official language primarily used in formal contexts.
